Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Should Ben Lujan Remain Speaker of the N.M. House?

Does the value of property increase when a highway interchange is built near it? Of course it does. So the fact that the state Department of Transportation abruptly moved the site of a proposed interchange to four-tenths of a mile from land owned by House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Nambe, in 2007 should raise eyebrows. Of course, Lujan has been doing things for years that should raise the eyebrows of anyone who cares about honest and ethical government, so perhaps the revelations contained in Sunday’s Albuquerque Journal article about the DOT project shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Ethics Reforms New Mexico Needs

Manny Aragon. Michael Montoya. Robert Vigil. Roberta Vigil. Eric Serna. Bill Richardson.

Those are the names of scandal-plagued public officials the Albuquerque Journal mentions in a weekend editorial in arguing that New Mexico’s “shoddy record is out of proportion with the state’s progress toward ethics reform.”

Commentary: Joan McCarter

Baucus and Grassley’s Health Care Reform Dance

You don't need Grassley's tweets to understand that he isn't approaching health care reform in good faith or what his vision on bipartisanship is when it comes to health care reform. Bipartisanship in his mind means what it usually means to Republicans--Dems capitulating on a public option. He makes it absolutely clear in a letter he sent to President Obama, along with a handful of his Republican colleagues.

Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Wall Street Journal Ignoring Facts In Its Attack On New Mexico AG

The Wall Street Journal went after New Mexico Attorney General Gary King this weekend for a third time in its ongoing “pay-to-sue” assault. Its new editorial reveals that the newspaper is not treating King fairly and is doing a disservice to its readers.

Political Commentary: Joan McCarter

Terrorism in Kansas

Dr. George Tiller was a husband, father, grandfather, friend, valued and respected member of his community and his church. And he was a doctor. An important doctor, who provided a difficult but extremely critical service to thousands of women. He was one of just three doctors in this nation who provided that service, and because he did so, he became a terrorist's target.

Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Please, Save Some Bullets For The Cops

Despite the fear mongering, further restrictions on firearms are not going to happen, at least not any time soon. When Obama’s attorney general mentioned bringing back the assault-weapons ban in February, 65 House Democrats signed a letter to the AG telling him they won’t support that idea. That means there are enough Democrats who oppose such a proposal to ensure its death.

Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Feds Should Scrutinize This Eyebrow-Raising Deal, Too

Use your public position to spend taxpayer money to benefit the family of a private contractor, get $50,000 of that taxpayer money back as a campaign contribution. Is that how a land deal went down between Gov. Bill Richardson and Santa Fe contractor Sonny Otero? The Richardson administration says it’s not, but there’s certainly an appearance of possible pay to play created by the deal, which is highlighted today by Albuquerque Journal reporter Thomas Cole.

Political Commentary: Joan McCarter

The Cynical Gun Debate

You know what we really need in these tough economic times (besides guaranteed, affordable health care, affordable housing, jobs)? How about rational credit card policies that would make it harder for the banks to gouge their customers? Is that what we're getting in the new legislation passed by the Senate last week? Not so fast.

Political Commentary: Heath Haussamen

Invest In Commuter Rail Only Where It Makes Sense

I’m a big fan of programs that reduce our dependence on foreign oil and our impact on the environment. I’ve become more impressed with the Rail Runner Express -- the commuter train that runs from Belen through Albuquerque to Santa Fe -- over time as significant numbers of people have continued to ride and expressed satisfaction with the system.